| THE CEASELESS INNATE THIRSTING OF THE SOUL BORE US TO GOD’S OWN DWELLING ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I LOOKED ON BEATRICE—AND SHE ON HEAVEN; “AS TO THE HAMMER FROM THE ARTIST’S BLOW, SO, THAT SAME HEAVEN WITH STARS RESPLENDENT DIGHT RECEIVES ITS IMPRESS FROM THE MIND PROFOUND THAT ROLLS IT EVER THROUGH THE FIELDS OF LIGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THUS DOTH INTELLIGENCE WITH GOODNESS FILL THE ORBS OF HEAVEN; THOUGH MULTIPLIED, THE SAME; ON ITS OWN UNITY REVOLVING STILL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SHINES THROUGH EACH ORB THE INFLUENCE DIVERSELY, SWAYED BY THE JOYOUS NATURE WHENCE IT STREAMS, LIKE GLADNESS THROUGH THE PUPIL OF THE EYE. HENCE IS DERIVED THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE MARK ’TWIXT STAR AND STAR ...” |
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“HER BEAUTY RAINETH | © V. O. | THAT INSPIRES LOVE AND IN |
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PARADISO |
| THE SACRED |
| NOW ON THE FACE OF MY LOVED LADY WERE MY EYES AND MIND AGAIN INTENTLY STAYED: ... HER LOOK BORE NOT THE ACCUSTOMED SMILE DIVINE; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SHE SAID: . . . “FOR SINCE MY BEAUTY, HIGHER AS WE RISE TOWARDS THE ETERNAL PALACE, GLOWS MORE BRIGHT AT EVERY STEP, AS WITNESSED BY THINE EYES,— WERE NOT A VEIL BEFORE ITS RADIANCE CAST, THY MORTAL VISION, DAZZLED AT THE SIGHT, WOULD SHRINK AS LEAVES BEFORE THE LIGHTNING BLAST.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MY SOARING EYE BEHELD A STAIR OF GOLDEN COLOURS BRIGHT ... “O SPIRIT BLEST THAT DOST THY FORM CONCEAL WITHIN THINE OWN DELIGHT, TO ME DISCLOSE ... WHY THE SWEET SYMPHONY OF PARADISE IN THIS HIGH SPHERE IS SILENT.” ... “MORTAL THY HEARING AS THY SIGHT,” SHE SAID; “AND THE SAME REASON NOW FORBIDS THE SONG, THAT LATE IN BEATRICE THE SMILE FORBADE.” |
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“IN ITS DEPTH I SAW THAT | © V. O. | IN SEPARATE LEAVES— |
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PARADISO |
| THE TENTH |
